Success Story-Saw doc this morning

[Cali]

After 2 months on autologous serum, lower plugs, fish/flax/krill oil, warm compresses and demodex tea tree eye salve, I now have tear film!!! When I first saw my eye doc, I had cornea erosions all over my eyes, too numerous to count. I was suicidal as I had been like that for about 2 weeks straight, no relief. I coudn't escape the pain even during sleep. My glands were clogged, my tear lab test did not register any tears (zero, the technician did it twice). I saw my doctor this morning and the tests this time did register dry eye, but, I was borderline at the bottom end of normal - not quite there yet but it's within reach.

I am currently on anti-depressants that I know aggravate dry eye, so I'm guessing my tests would be better if I weren't on them. I had so deteriorated psychologically from the pain and isolation, that even when my eyes started to feel better, my mood/mental state did not. I pretty much didn't leave the house, watch TV, read, talk to friends, eat or even sleep for about 2 months. That will do a number on your head.

In any case, over the coming year my doctor and I are going to start to change the serum % (I'm at 75% serum and will drop to 50% then 20% over time), then I may get to remove my plugs. She has confidence. I am very lucky to have found a compassionate, competent cornea specialist to treat me.

Crossing my fingers but even if I'm on serum drops and plugs for the rest of my life, I consider myself a success story. I am no longer in crippling chronic pain.

[spmcc]

Cali - can you remind me, please - what was your diagnosis and/or what triggered your erosions and dry eye?

And congratulations!

[Blinks]

Cali -- Congratulations! So very glad to hear you are doing better and such a relief for you. Thank you for posting to share your progress and accomplishments. Such a long road. It's so good that you've a compassionate doctor in your corner. All good things. Sending all good wishes your way.

[bakunin]

Very good news Cali! Thanks for sharing your success with us. It give us hope to get better.
For sure when you get definetely fine you will be a stronger person than before.

[bakunin]

Some very well known doctors who do research in corneal pain/dry eyes say they never use serum more than 50% and the frequency of the drops makes difference but nobody knows if its concentration makes difference.

So I'm curious about what your doctor said to prescribe 75% autologous serum.

[sazy123]

Some very well known doctors who do research in corneal pain/dry eyes say they never use serum more than 50% and the frequency of the drops makes difference but nobody knows if its concentration makes difference.

So I'm curious about what your doctor said to prescribe 75% autologous serum.

Congrats. I just wish something would help my inflammed innereyelids. Nothing helps then and ive tried EVERYTHING.


Can i ask. Did you have MGD and if so- were your eyelids inflammed?

[farmgirl]

I am so happy for you Cali, i remember your cry for help from just a few months ago...yeah for this forum!! Thanks once again Rebecca...F/G

[bakunin]

Congrats. I just wish something would help my inflammed innereyelids. Nothing helps then and ive tried EVERYTHING.


Can i ask. Did you have MGD and if so- were your eyelids inflammed?

Hi sazy, don't know if your question was for me or for Cali. I suppose it is for Cali. If i'm wrong, let me know.

[LaDiva]

Congratulations Cali! Happy to hear you have found some relief, and are getting better. I just changed my health coverage because the last time I saw my corneal specialist hoping for some new ideas or words of encouragement she said "you'll just have to learn to live with it". Hah. A doctor who gives you hope and keeps trying is worth their weight in gold. Great news for you, and I am sure you will continue to feel better. Best wishes.

[Cali]

Spmcc - I had LASIK about 8 years ago. I always had a bit of dry eye after LASIK, but it was manageable. My right eye had some nerve damage from the LASIK. It started to progress very slightly until one day I woke up with the erosions. It was like one day I was manageable/fine and the next I was not. Also I was secreting no tears and had MGB. My guess as to why I suddently turned? I think I was always on the edge but stress/age caught up with me. I can think of no other reason why the sudden onset.

Cali - can you remind me, please - what was your diagnosis and/or what triggered your erosions and dry eye?

And congratulations!

[sunshinelover]

Cali, how will you proceed? Are your eyes feeling like they were before now? What do you think helped the most?
I think stress and hormones are the culprits here as well...

[Cali]

Hi Bakunin - yes, the clinical studies for dry eye ranged from 20% - 50%. I've found that most of the studies are on 20%. However, I've read a number of people who have graft vs. host disease do better on 100% serum.

So, for me, since nobody knows if concentration makes a difference and I was in so much pain, we decided on the 100% and 75% trials. But, my doctor prescribed dropping every 4-6 hours which goes against the studies. I was the one who increased the dropping schedule to 8x/day based on my research. This just shows you how you have to be your own advocate, read as much as possible and find a doctor who will work "with" you.

Very good news Cali! Thanks for sharing your success with us. It give us hope to get better.
For sure when you get definetely fine you will be a stronger person than before.

[Cali]

Replied to Sunshinelover below.

[Cali]

Yes Sunshinelover, I think it was stress and hormones. My doctor has given me quite a bit of hope. My meiobiam glands are still clogged but my doctor thinks they will start to clear over time as my ocular surface continues to heal. I just need to keep doing the warm compresses morning and night.

What do I think helped the most? Honestly, I think it was using the serum drops 8x/day religously (no kidding, I carry a cooler around) and I hate to admit it, but xanax. When I started to panic and freak out over my eyes (fears of never feeling normal or having a normal life), I could literally feel my eyes get dryer. I could feel the stress hit my eyes (that's how sensitive they became). The calmer I remain, the less they hurt.

And I think all the other things add up as well - the compresses, fish oil, anti-inflammation diet. But in the end I think serum drops and stress reduction were key to my healing.

Cali, how will you proceed? Are your eyes feeling like they were before now? What do you think helped the most?
I think stress and hormones are the culprits here as well...

[Cali]

Sazy, yes, I have MGD as well. My eyelids were not inflammed but I noticed when I put a warm compress on my eyes, they were immediately coated with oil. That was about 2 months ago when I first started compressing. I was also put on antibiotics for the MGD. Today, I am still compressing, but do not have the immediate oil rush. I think my glands are starting to kick-in and return to normal because my ocular surface is healing. My doctor thinks there is a very good possibility that I will have nerve regeneration as well.

I think my eye issues are a direct result of LASIK so I might be a different case than yours. My eyes problems began after LASIK, but progressed over the years to the crash about 2 months ago.

Congrats. I just wish something would help my inflammed innereyelids. Nothing helps then and ive tried EVERYTHING.


Can i ask. Did you have MGD and if so- were your eyelids inflammed?